LONDON: European shares were set to edge up on Friday, reversing some losses from the previous session after a late-session rebound for some stocks on Wall Street, though technology shares could succumb to weakness after disappointing results from US firm Google.
Britain's FTSE 100 was seen up 8-13 points or 0.2 percent; Germany's DAX was expected to gain 13-17 points or 0.2 percent and France's CAC 40 was seen up 3-6 points or 0.2 percent, according to financial bookmakers.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares closed down 0.6 percent at 1,128.84 points on Thursday, but ended off intraday lows. The index is on track to post its first weekly fall in four weeks.
A cautious tone is expected to prevail in markets as investors scrutinise inflation data from the euro zone and the United States later in the session. Any indications of above-forecast inflation figures could put further pressure on monetary policy decisions at the European Central Bank and the US Federal Reserve.
Corporate earnings are expected to dominate the trading session, with heavyweight Nestle reporting a better-than-forecast first quarter organic growth. In the US Bank of America's will report results.
Google Inc shares fell 5 percent in extended trading on Wall Street after the company's first-quarter profit fell short of Wall Street's target as operating expenses surged.
Stocks on the Dow Jones industrial average and the S&P 500 eked out small gains on Thursday to pare earlier falls.
Debt troubles in Greece will also be in focus in equity markets, with the country scheduled to present fresh austerity and privatisation plans on Friday in an attempt to convince markets it can tidy up its finances and avoid restructuring its debt.
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